5 or So Facts About Ryan Hollins, New Wizards Starting “Center”

So-the-Wizards signed Ryan Hollins like a hundred hours ago, give or take. For now, he fills a neglected need: backup rim protector, i.e., Nene insurance. But also, tonight versus the visiting Suns with Nene out, and Marcin Gortat out, and Kris Humphries probably out, and this hipster coffee shop for bicycle enthusiasts with gages is OVER, Hollins is … wait for it … THE STARTING CENTER (or “5”) FOR THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS (likely). If you imagine him literally leapfrogging over DeJuan Blair you might find yourself chuckling.

Hollins, we’ll remind you, was with the Memphis Grizzlies for training camp and fills at least one critical requirement of Ernie Grunfeld’s basketball operations: he’s a veteran! And he’s a kicking 31 years old! (Sad Note: a Grunfeld quote on Hollins’ veteranshipmanness was not included in the team press release announcing his signing and the waiving of Martell Webster.)

With that grand introduction, let’s digest some facts about Hollins, as I know you are just waiting at the table, napkin tucked into your shirt collar, fork and knife death-gripped in hands and pointed at the sky while the butt-ends are rapping on the table to alert the populace that you are hungry.

#5)

Hollins was drafted 50th overall out of UCLA in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft, also known as the Oleksiy Pecherov draft. Unrelated fact: Hollins’ basketball camp is called “Get Buckets” (no “, Son” as a hat-top to Pech, however).

#4)

He was a high jumper in college and once dunked while wearing a Google Glass contraption for the Sacramento Kings. Thankfully our eyes have a better stability system when moving at high speeds.

Ever wonder what it's like dunking as a 7 footer? Here's to Google Glass. Perspective is everything. https://t.co/QVHCWjyIm9

#3)

Hollins attempted and made exactly one 3-pointer in four years at UCLA (his junior year), and he’s attempted exactly one 3-pointer in the NBA (and missed) as a member of the Timberwolves. Fifty percent!

In one career game with the Wizards: 11 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, 1 foul.

Also: He’s played in 36 career playoff games (17 with Boston, nine with Dallas, and 10 with the Clippers) and an even 300 postseason minutes.

#2)

Basketball-Reference.com compares players using a “Similarity Score” composite metric. How is it calculated? Who cares! The third comparison (ranked by Win Shares (1)) to Hollins is Calvin Booth. The 10th comparison is Jim McIlvaine. The second comparison is Paul Mokeski… This guy! (Below.) Who not only looks like your dad, but also your dad as a high school principal. (Note: All these years some sort of subconscious dyslexia wanted to turn the first K in Mokeski’s name to an ‘l’ so that I could call him Paul Mole-ski. Knowing is half the battle!)

#1)

Hollins has made 15 career appearancesagainst the Wizards with a record of 8-7 (2-4 in games in D.C.). He’s 1-0 as a Celtic, 1-3 as a Bobcat, 2-3 as a Cavs, 2-0 as a Clipper, 1-1 as a Timberwolf, and 1-0 as a King.

His best game against Washington (according to BBR’s Game Score) came in a 100-93 win with the Cavaliers in Cleveland in April 2011. Hollins started next to J.J. Hickson, Anthony Parker, Alonzo Gee, and Ramon Sessions and scored 12 points (2-3 FGs, 8-8 FTs) with 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 assist. Sessions paced the Cavs with 27 points while Andray Blatche paced the Wizards with 20. John Wall, Maurice Evans, JaVale McGee, and Jordan Crawford (2-14 FGs) also started that game. Good times! Exclamation points!

Finally, this:

Wins Shares is NOT “Wins Produced,” which is the Donald Trump of stats. Or, as user “jicama” explains in this Real GM forum: “Win Shares is an earnest attempt to apportion player credit for team wins. WP is a psychology experiment to see how many people can be persuaded to believe something, no matter how absurd it is.”

Kyle founded TAI in 2007 and has been weaving in and out the world of Wizards ever since, ducking WittmanFaces, jumping over G-Wiz, and avoiding stints on the DNP-Conditioning list. He has covered the Washington pro basketball team as a member of the media since 2009. Kyle currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife, loves basketball, and has no pets.

Franchise History

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

About TAI

Truth About It.net, Washington Wizards Blog, ESPN TrueHoop Network -- Following the D.C. pro basketball franchise since the 90s and covering them in blog form since 2007 -- Opinion, Analysis, Irreverence, Pictures, Video, Interviews, Photoshops, News, Video, Quotes, Shares, and all the pixels about the Washington Wizards you can imagine.